EUSPBA Competition Sanctioning

The EUSPBA Mission

The EUSPBA recognizes that music competitions provide a means of
improving piping, drumming, and pipe band musical performances, and has
established a set of rules and regulations. We aspire to assist
individuals and bands in reaching, not only their highest competitive
potential, but also raising the level of our art. Contests that agree to
follow the EUSPBA guidelines may be sanctioned by the association.
EUSPBA sanctioning provides competitors a measure of uniformity in terms
of rules, standards, and judging.

What is Sanctioning?

So your Scottish Games or Festival would like to include musical
competitions. What a grand way to fill the air with the sound of pipes
and drums, to fill your fields with kilts, and fill your guests with
the excitement and enjoyment necessary to keep them coming back. But how do you go about it, where do you
start? The primary purpose of EUSPBA is to sanction and oversee music
competitions (see our mission statement above), and we’ve been doing it
since 1964. We can jump start the process for you and help you host a
successful event.

We suggest appointing a Piping and Drumming Director and/or Committee
who will coordinate working with EUSPBA to ensure that the required
rules and procedures are followed. By sanctioning your contest with
EUSPBA you are acknowledging that your games will follow EUSPBA rules
and procedures so that competitors have a consistent forum for
competition. The benefits of sanctioning are many, including a greater
draw of competitors and assistance from the EUSPBA.

Determine early on the date of your contest and verify with EUSPBA
that sanctioning is available in your area on that date. With a limited
judges panel and only so many competitors on the planet, we don’t want
to stretch resources too far or risk an unsatisfactory event for you or
your competitors.

Next, review the sanctioning packet to determine what contests you
will hold on the day. There is a list of contests that are required, as
well as a list of additional, optional contests that you may consider
hosting. That will help you determine the number of judges you will need
to adjudicate the contests. Use our Judges Panel Contact list to secure
agreements with our approved judges. In certain cases, guest judges may
be utilized, but they must be approved in advance by EUSPBA. While we
provide a list of approved judges and ensure that they are highly
qualified, you will contact and contract with them directly, not through
EUSPBA.

Once that information is gathered, send your Request for Sanctioning
in to the EUSPBA Sanctioner (see Contacts) at least 60 days prior to
your contest. You may also want to contact our Web site to request
adding your event to our online Calendar of Events. Assuming your event
will be held annually, a new Sanctioning Package will be sent to you in
the first quarter of the new year for your convenience. If you do not
receive one, please contact the EUSPBA Sanctioner, allowing ample time
to complete the request procedure properly.

Our sanctioning fee is a modest $50. For that sum you receive up to
125 score sheets and the opportunity to purchase member mailing labels
for 10c per label. You could also become a Patron Member of EUSPBA for
$150 and receive up to 600 score sheets, FREE membership mailing labels,
plus all of the benefits associated with EUSPBA membership for you or
the person of your choice.